Solstice - The Goddess Awakens

‘Pick up, pick up, come on, Arthur, pick up the phone!’ pleaded Lola for the umpteenth time.

‘Relax, Lola. He’s alright, it was just a dream,’ calmed Clara. ‘He’s probably out in the garden with Cuchulain that’s why no one’s answering the phone.’

Lola nodded absentmindedly. No matter how the girls tried to reason with her, and no matter how much she wanted to believe they were right, she couldn’t control the waves of sheer panic that had taken hold of her. Last night’s dream had felt so real. She just needed to talk to Arthur, to hear his voice, and then she would be content.

‘We’re nearly home, Lo, I’ll drop you off at Arthur’s if you want,’ offered Ruby.

‘I’ll just try calling once more,’ said Lola. Lifting her mobile, she pressed redial, but again there was no answer.

They arrived in Ballyvalley in record time. Ruby’s father’s Range Rover Sport had made the journey seem short.

‘Arthur’s. Is it?’ asked Ruby.

‘No,’ Lola hesitated. ‘No, I think I should go home first.’ Ruby looked confused but brought the jeep to a standstill at the side of the busy road. Lola lifted her overnight bag and hopped out. Shouting her goodbyes over her shoulder, she climbed the steps to her house two at a time. Bombing through the front door, she went straight for the telephone. Just as she was about to dial Arthur’s number her mother came through the living room door into the hall. Eileen Paige’s face was ashen and her green eyes were swollen and red.

Without a word Lola replaced the handset and followed her mum into the living room, where her brothers Michael, Brendan, Christopher and Liam sat, along with her dad, all wearing the same glum expression. None of them had to say a word. Their faces confirmed exactly what Lola had known. What she had sensed all weekend. Her legs registered the panic first as wave after scalding cold wave washed over her body.

Collapsing onto the floor, Lola broke down, her aching sobs almost inaudible. Her mother was the first to her side holding her tight, rocking back and forth in perfect motion with Lola. No one seemed to question how she knew, but each took their turn to console her.

Lola felt completely numb. She had never experienced pain like it. Broken, she couldn’t even bare to think Arthur’s name. She couldn’t bear to think of a world, or a universe, that didn’t hold Arthur Delphian. She could hear her own sobbing. Her head felt as if it were about to explode. Yet, it felt like it was someone other than her that was crumpled on the floor, crying frantically.

After some time, someone guided her upstairs to her room, laying by her side in an attempt to control her body as it convulsed on the bed.